Cannes Property Letter 83

The final property in the letter today is in this historic building. Scroll to the end to read about it.

PL 83: PROPERTY LETTER 14th August 2009.

Dear All,

KEEPING MY PROMISES.

In my last Property Letter (which was my first attempt at separation and entitled “Just Villas”) I told you that we had quite a number of very interesting apartments becoming available, including some in the most affordable price range. Today you have them – a very good selection of interesting apartments arranged in price order. I recommend that if you are pressed for time you find your level and look at properties in that range rather than reading through properties that are of no relevance to you – being either far too small, or far too expensive.

If you have more time for reading however I hope these Property Letters are educational, serving to give you a very thorough overview of the entire market from top to bottom. I would remind you that every property that I include in these letters has been selected from many, and the trash thrown out. So what you are seeing is an “interesting” cross section of the market – properties that are really worth considering. Some are priced to sell and some are priced ‘optimistically’, but we can look at them on a case by case basis as nearly all would be subject to at least some negotiation

Before the recession I used to write a bit about Cannes, The Cote d’Azur, and France….To make these letters more interesting and newsy! And I will get back to that. (More promises for me to keep!)

However, since the middle of 2008:–

“It’s the economy, stupid!”

The phrase was coined by Bill Clinton’s campaign team in 1992 when George Bush (senior) seemed unbeatable and American eyes and thoughts were fixed on the end of the Cold War and the War in the Gulf. The fact was that America and the world were also trying to emerge from a recession (as we are today) and the phrase struck a chord with the people; Americans sat up and listened, and Clinton beat Bush!

Maybe the phrase was the precursor to:-

“Yes. We. Can.”

This now famous phrase (used in a song by the Pointer Sisters 1973) re-emerged in January 2008 after Obama won the South Carolina primary! This is how his victory speech ended:

And where we are met with cynicism and doubt and fear and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the
spirit of the American people in three simple words: Yes. We. Can.

Isn’t it amazing what a phrase can do? It is the sheer positive power of it that got into the heads of the American people. They carried the phrase to the ballot boxes with them, and there is no doubt it helped carry Obama and his “yes we can” team all the way to the White House!

We can all be terribly afflicted, especially in tough times, by negative thinking – we can just freeze! We can simply stop doing anything at all for fear that it might be the wrong thing! The President of the South African Creativity Foundation Dr Kobus Neethling summed up this condition as follows: “One of the greatest stumbling blocks for the entrepreneur is negativity. It’s a subtle disease that sends the brain into problem-mode thinking. Others around you realise it and are influenced by it, to the disadvantage of everyone and the business. And when times are hard people are even more likely to express negativity – every day we are told how bad the economy is – and eventually that becomes part of our belief system.”

News of the Recession 2008/09.Thankfully the news is changing:

It’s been tough but France and Germany were officially out of the recession in the 2nd quarter – by a meager +0.3%, but out of it none the less. The 16 member Euro-Zone as a whole which excludes the UK and Switzerland (who don’t use the Euro) was still slightly negative at -0.1 %, brought down largely by Spain and Italy who are the third and fourth largest economies, and they are still in trouble.

It has been a deep recession and it is not entirely over yet, however the FTSE, Wall Street and markets around the world are up, some of them recently recording consecutive daily increases not seen for many years. House prices in the UK were up 3% in July, and mortgage approvals up 23% so it seems some of the most extreme doomsayers might have been wrong. The French National Association of Estate Agents (FNAIM) reports that the level of enquiries has risen 63% – 23% coming from investors. Banks are far from out of the woods but the major ones such as Barclays and HSBC are posting modest profits again. On the down side, and militating against the recovery, unemployment and house repossessions will continue to rise as they inevitably do post-recession for another year or two.

The truth is though that nobody wants to listen to a pessimist, recession or no recession. Nobody wants to hear whining and complaints and Clinton and Obama (who both came in on a recession) and all great leaders before them learned to look for the positives – and that is what made them into winners. We can all learn from them as we look towards emerging from this recession “on top” – whatever that might mean to each of us individually.

FRENCH FANTASY.

(Courtesy of Marianne Heron writing in the Western Cape edition of PROPERTY MAGAZINE, July 2009)

“An incomparable lifestyle and a stable property market make buying in France an attractive proposition”.

I am so pleased to read a feature length article such as this in a leading publication. Much if not all of what she says is precisely in line with what I have been writing in Property Letters since the early days of this recession.

How is the property market faring in the light of what the French refer to as “la crise”? The comforting answer is: considerably better than the US or
the UK.

France is a model of fiscal rectitude where banks’ lending policy is concerned, so the market there hasn’t been hit by the boom-and-bust experience.

Historically the country has had stable prices with increases in line with inflation.

Although the country has a high level of public debt, private households are less indebted, helped by the French habit of “petites épargnes” (saving for a rainy day)

France is not a speculative market, such as Dubai or the UK, and French property legislation does not encourage speculation.

The level of enquiries from investors suggests that because of the state of the market it could be a really good time to buy, as you have good negotiating power.

Homebuyers are well protected in France. Regulations require technical reports, paid for by the vendor, to show: the condition of the building on sale; how much energy is required to heat the property; that it is free of asbestos or termite damage; and so on.

In short owning property in France for pleasure or as an investment earning a reasonable return, or a healthy mixture of the two is not necessarily “French Fantasy” at all.

With a dose of “yes we can” and the want to do it, it doesn’t take much to start. Very few of us start with the property of our dreams, but once we are in the market the best way forward is “up” and many of us are doing just that after a few years – trading up to bigger and better things. French banks are lending, interest rates are low, and some people who are unable to go it alone are forming small teams to achieve a foothold in France with family or like minded friends. There are many ways to do it if the will is there.

As always, please let me know if you would rather not receive these Property Letters and I’ll remove your address from the list.

The selection offered represents a few properties chosen from many, so if what you are looking for is not here, we can tailor-make our search for you.

Please remember that if you follow the links you will be able to read about the properties, look at a gallery of photos, and look at the
position of the properties on a map.

Palm Beach. Studio Apartment.

22m² of living space.

2nd floor of 5.

Construction 1975.

Exposition – west.

View uninterrupted – gardens and nearby apartment buildings.

West facing balcony.

Asking price – 180 000€.

This little apartment will be a fine renter for someone looking to get a foot in the door in Cannes. It is close to beaches on both the east and west sides of the Palm Beach peninsula, and very close to the lovely little shopping centre of Sablons with what we call “the best little patisserie in town”, grocers, pharmacy, butcher, post office, newsagent, hairdresser and laundry! It’s our local shopping village and it has everything, including village atmosphere.

The apartment is light with a sunny terrace, has an equipped kitchen, and a bathroom and toilet off the main living room. It is double glazed already but would need some work to upgrade the kitchen and bathroom before renting it out. What is most surprising (and valuable) is that it has a parking below the building and a cellar. It is unusual for a small studio apartment to come with a parking and it adds significant value.

This apartment on the third floor of a very well maintained 1960’s or 1970’s block with a guardian and lifts is a good investment property. It is just two minute’s walk from the Croisette and the main public bathing beaches although you can’t see them because it looks the other way. It is a hundred metres from shops and cafes, and the view across a school and the suburb of Bas Californie is very pleasant.

It has a bathroom and an open plan kitchen leading onto a living area which is greatly enlarged and enhanced by a closed-in and double glazed balcony, effectively creating a second room. It is very neat and tidy, and is being sold fully furnished, so there is absolutely nothing to spend on it after transfer. It also has a garage in the basement – a most unusual and very valuable addition to an apartment of this size and this close to the centre of Cannes.

It is quite possible to rent this apartment for conferences as it is so close to the Croisette and just a 12 minute walk along the front of Cannes to the Palais des Festivals. But it is also a very good little long term renter if a more regular income stream is what is needed.

We have looked after this apartment since it was bought by the current owner five years ago, first in the ‘seasonal and conference’ rental role and later in the ‘12 months at a time’ role, to young working residents of Cannes. The owner has decided to move onward and upward as many of us do, and buy something bigger. This little investment apartment was his foot in the door to property on the Cote d’Azur, and it has done him very well and allowed him to move to bigger things. It can certainly do the same for the next person. It is exactly how many of us got our start and this property is perfect for it.

(Web reference not yet available – coming soon)

Forville.

One Bedroom Apartment.

30m² of living space.

6th floor of 7.

Construction 1970’s.

Exposition east.

View unbroken of old suburb and hills.

Large 15m² terrace.

Asking price – 192 000€.

The well kept building with a guardian has a lift (that’s important to know when you’re on the 6th floor!) and is positioned just a stones throw from the wonderful Marche Forville. The covered food market where Vicky and I do all our produce shopping most weekends (fruit, veggies, fish, meat, pastas, cheeses, flowers) is open mornings from Tuesday to Sunday. On Mondays it is an antique market. Just below the Market are the Old Port, the Croisette and the Palais des Festivals. Immediately to the west of the market one climbs up ancient staircases through a gauntlet of fine restaurants to the old walls of the town and the church which tops it.

The position of this apartment for rentals is very good.

The apartment itself consists of a living room and open plan kitchen, a bathroom and toilet, and a small bedroom. The living room and bedroom both open onto the very (relatively) large east facing balcony with pleasant view across the older suburb of Petit Juas, and the hills beyond. There is an oblique view of the old port and the sea. There is a cellar in the basement and no parking although there is a municipal parking garage right next door.

The apartment does need some work to raise its standard to acceptable for renting – not a lot of work, but some tidying up.

This apartment in a quaint and very quiet little street (cul-de-sac) just a few minutes drive and 20 minutes walk to the centre of Cannes is a very interesting proposition as a rental property – to a young family or couple – or as a small and affordable holiday apartment on the Riviera, 10 minutes from beaches and within an hour of almost anywhere – Nice, Monaco, San Remo in Italy, the ski slopes of the lower Alps, Aix, St Tropez, and so on.

It occupies the ground floor (and has the basement) of a charming building. There’s a little garden but the occupants do not have exclusive use of it as it belongs to everyone in the building. The basement however is very useful space and owners use it for storage and as their laundry.

The apartment itself has a living room and a kitchen, bathroom and toilet, and two bedrooms. It is very well renovated and organised to utilise space to the maximum, so they look very comfortable in it.

It has a great deal of charm and appeal, but is out of the conference rental area, so long term (annual) furnished rentals is the answer, and would be viable, unless it is to be kept for private use.

This little apartment is in a very good building with a guardian, in the heart of Palm Beach and it overlooks the busy and vibrant Place de L’Etang. It is a perfectly good little rental unit – needs very little work to get it going.

Palm Beach suburb at the eastern end of the Croisette is only a short (20 minute) walk through glorious gardens and past pristine beaches to the Palais des Festivals right in the heart of Cannes. It is the safest and among the most up-market suburbs in Cannes, favoured for holiday and conference rentals, but also for second homes of the wealthy because it occupies a very unique peninsula, and beaches are to the east and to the west and never more than 200m distant. We find that people who visit Cannes and experience Palm Beach almost invariable say “this is where I would like to buy”. There are quaint and quality grocers, butcheries and patisseries in Palm Beach, and some traditional and some top class restaurants, yacht basins, harbours and a famous casino on the point – but it is also a quiet suburb out of the hustle and bustle of the centre. It has much to recommend it and property values are high.

The apartment was a studio but previous owners did away with the separate kitchen in favour of a small bedroom (just wide enough for a double bed). The new kitchen is now open plan and part of the living room which is spacious, and opening as it does onto a large balcony there is a feeling of reasonable space. There is a bathroom and toilet. The apartment is double glazed, and parking in the quiet gated street is for residents only.

This little apartment in Palm Beach is close to the beaches of Moure Rouge – the eastern side of our peninsula. It is also close to the little village of Sablons with all its amenities, so the position is good. It is a good apartment as an investment and for the purpose of longer term rentals – a year at a time.

It is in good condition – but would need a little tidying up after the last tenant who recently left. It also needs basic furnishing for a long term rental. It has a living room, a small double bedroom with cupboards, an open plan kitchen and a bathroom and separate toilet. It is air conditioned and the building has lifts and a full time guardian.

This apartment is in a good building and a great position in the heart of Palm Beach. It is just a minute from the Port and beaches of Moure Rouge, being the eastern beaches of Palm Beach peninsula. They are the “family” beaches, relaxed, free, and having all the amenities such as pedalos, optimist class sailing boats for hire, wind surfers and kite skis. The restaurants down this beach are affordable and my favourite mussel dish is served right on the beach at the restaurant Moure Rouge. It is however just as close to the Place de l’Etang with its numerous quality restaurants and shops, and the village Sablons is 150m away.

For rentals both seasonal and conference, and longer term residential it is very well positioned. The choice is there. As a small holiday apartment, perfect!

The apartment itself needs work! It is in poor shape, so one must be able to appreciate potential to go into this – and if you do you will not be disappointed. It needs to be redesigned, with a new open plan kitchen in the entrance hall, a complete new bathroom and toilet, new floors and ceilings in the bedroom and living room. The result will be a valuable little jewel with a sea view in Palm Beach, and the finishing price will, in my opinion, be below market value. We look for apartments that need to be upgraded and renovated, and with the potential to add value and this is one that has that potential.

This apartment benefits most from its position. We have another in this block, and it is such an easy walk to the Suquet – the Old Town, to Rue St Antoine with all its famous pavement restaurants, to Forville Market just a couple of blocks below the apartment, and to the Palais des Festivals, the Rue d’Antibes and its shops, and the Croisette with its beaches and glitzy boutiques and restaurants. It is very well situated for rentals or for holidays.

The apartment has just been renovated and comprises a spacious living room with a good south facing balcony with views of the Old Church and city walls on the hill opposite, and a small view of the sea and the Old Port. It has two bedrooms, a bathroom and a separate toilet, a large kitchen and storage room (pantry). It is double glazed, and with windows on the northern (bedroom) side of the apartment too, it benefits from a through current of air so air conditioning is optional to install, but not necessary.

This spacious apartment is just five minutes walk from the famous, covered and colourful Marché Forville, open six days a week from very early until lunch time for all fresh produce from vegetables and fruit to fish, meats, cheeses, home made pastas, preserves and tapinades, and flowers. (On Mondays their only day off it is an antique market.) Most weekends Vicky and I do our shopping there, and then reward ourselves with a glass of cold rosé or bubbly, and a plate of oysters at one of the many pavement establishments around the square. This is the French doing what they do best! The apartment is therefore also just about eight minutes walk to the Palais des Festivals, the Old Port and the Croisette, all just below Marché Forville. Also just below the apartment is the Old Town of Le Suquet, with its many classic and wonderful restaurants, some of them open since the late 1800’s. Pedestrian Rue St Antoine which runs up the hill towards the Old City walls from Forville is a gourmet’s paradise, and throbs with life and character particularly in the evenings when the tables spill out onto the cobbled street.

The apartment has been completely renovated, and as it stands one bedroom has been taken over as a living room, and the living room as a dining room. The kitchen opens onto the dining room and (would be) living room and the two bedrooms are large with lovely high ceilings. The current owner has taken a lot of time and trouble to polish and retain the original hexagonal Provencal red brick floor tiles in bedrooms, parquet in living room, and to scrape down the original wooden doors, and has created a lovely bathroom with a separate shower. It is all very attractively done.

There is a small balcony which has a lovely view across town from a high position, and a small view of the sea in the south west (the bay towards La Napoule, Theoule and the Esterel Hills)

The apartment is double glazed, has a cellar in the basement, and generous stairs in a clean and well kept building – no lift. (Being on the second floor with good wide stairs this is not seen as a problem). It has windows on three walls allowing a through current of air, so it is very fresh, light and cool.

This is a lovely little apartment carefully maximised. Its position overlooking the centre of Cannes and the Old Port from a height make it very appealing. It also looks the right way – south and west. The building is good and there is a guardian. It is close enough to the Palais des Festivals and the centre of town to work as a rental apartment for long term tenants, or for the conference trade and holiday market (short term rentals), but would also make a lovely holiday venue or second home – or “lock up and go”.

The apartment comprises a living room with a lovely balcony, a bedroom, an open plan kitchen, a bathroom and separate toilet. The bedroom and living rooms are air conditioned, and there is a garage in the basement, and a cellar. All windows are double glazed. This is a good apartment – and I suggest a lower offer.

This is the first of two apartments overlooking the Place de l’Etang today, the centre of Palm Beach and the centre of boulles world-wide. It is on the first floor of a good block, with its expansive balcony on the eastern side of the Place, looking west. The apartment block is well maintained and has a guardian.

Palm Beach suburb at the eastern end of the Croisette is only a short (20 minute) walk through glorious gardens and past pristine beaches to the Palais des Festivals right in the heart of Cannes. It is the safest and among the most up-market suburbs in Cannes, favoured for holiday and conference rentals, but also for second homes of the wealthy because it occupies a very unique peninsula, and beaches are to the east and to the west and never more than 200m distant. We find that people who visit Cannes and experience Palm Beach almost invariable say “this is where I would like to buy”. There are quaint and quality grocers, butcheries and patisseries in Palm Beach, and some traditional and some top class restaurants, yacht basins, harbours and a famous casino on the point – but it is also a quiet suburb out of the hustle and bustle of the centre. It has much to recommend it and property values are high.

The apartment comprises two bedrooms, a bathroom and separate toilet, a spacious living room and dining nook looking eastwards, a separate kitchen – and the cherry on the top is the terrace. It is really spacious at 30m², westward looking, and each bedroom and the living room open directly on to it. This is a real bonus feature, light and inspiring and making the apartment quite special.

It has been in the same family for many years and is rather cluttered with beautiful antique furniture at present. When that has all gone the apartment will need at the very least a facelift – however it also begs to be transformed into a modern and comfortable apartment befitting its extraordinary position. The possibilities include a second en-suite bathroom which is simple to achieve, and breaking out the walls to open the closed and rather small kitchen up to the living room and dining nook, making everything feel lighter and more spacious. New floors, air conditioning, new paint, modern bathrooms and a new kitchen will transform this apartment into a beautiful and very valuable investment. It is a classic example of a property in which the value created by investing in a well planned renovation will significantly exceed the money spent to achieve it. This property has only recently come on to the market and I can confidently predict it will not remain on the market for long.

This apartment is well positioned just off the ring road that separates the “banane” from the suburb of Montfleury. It does not overlook nor is it affected by the ring road (the Voie Rapide) but it is only a three minute walk to the Rue d’Antibes and therefore a five minute walk to the Croisette and the centre of Cannes.

It is situated on the third floor of a 1930’s building with character, and a lift. The building and the apartment have charm and are well maintained. The apartment is loved by the owners who live there but need to move to something bigger as the lady is pregnant with her second child.

It is composed of a very large (double) living and dining room, a lovely spacious kitchen with balcony and a lovely view of the hills, and a large bedroom. The bathroom has a shower and a bath. Because of previous renovations there are two attractive fireplaces in the living and dining room, one near the kitchen and one against the far wall, the floors are original polished parquet, and the ceilings are high and moulded.

There is a cellar in the basement, and if the buyer would like, there is the option of a “servants quarters” – a small room with water and electricity on the 5th floor for an additional 20 000€ (subject to negotiation).

This is a lovely apartment, already double glazed and renovated, and with the space available it is tempting to put in another bedroom – but in reality it is difficult to see how it would be done. Perhaps an architect would have some ideas, but on the face of it, it does not look easy. As a very large one bedroom apartment right on the edge of Cannes and walking distance to everywhere, it is an extremely attractive proposition.

(Think about it! A two bedroom apartment, renovated and fully furnished with parking in the heart of Palm Beach for under 400 000€! You don’t have to
be a rocket scientist to see that there is value here.)

La Bellita.

Two Bedroom Apartment.

57m² of living space.

1st floor of 6.

Construction 1970’s.

Exposition east and west.

Views unbroken, plus small sea and Croisette view.

Narrow balconies east and west.

Gated private parking.

A cellar in the basement.

Asking price – 399 000€.

This apartment is positioned right between Palm Beach and the Centre of Cannes – on the town side of the suburb of Palm Beach. It is in the block which is La Croisette but faces away from it, so the Port Canto, the Croisette and the sea are visible between buildings on the bedroom side of the apartment. The living room side opens over the quiet road running parallel to the Croisette.

It is just 150m from the lovely little Palm Beach shopping village of Sablons with its patisserie, groceries, butcheries, post office, laundry, hairdresser, pharmacy and so on. It is also only 100m from the Croisette, Port Canto and the beaches. It is a 15 minute walk to the Palais des Festivals and less than that to the shops and the centre of Cannes. The Place de l’Etang is 5 minutes away with its selection of restaurants and the constantly lively boulles.

The building is an immaculate and typically “Croisette” block with a guardian – very well maintained. One enters the apartment through a hall with two spacious bedrooms on the western side, each opening onto the long balcony through double glass doors, this balcony overlooking gardens and the buildings on the Croisette. There are narrow views of the sea between the buildings. On the eastern side is a large living room with a modern open plan kitchen. The main bathroom and toilet is off the main bedroom and the second shower and toilet serve the second bedroom and guests.

The apartment is fully and well furnished and is being sold with everything, so there is no expense foreseen after transfer.

It has a parking space in the gated car park.

La Bellita suits perfectly someone wanting a second home right in the heart of holiday Cannes and a short walk to the centre. It is also perfectly suited to either type of rental, being short term and conference, or longer term and residential.

This is a valuable apartment in the heart of Palm Beach overlooking the lovely, lively and traditional Place de l’Etang (spiritual home of boulles) is in a quality and well maintained block of apartments with a permanent guardian. Common areas are clean, spacious and light.

Palm Beach suburb at the eastern end of the Croisette is only a short (20 minute) walk through glorious gardens and past pristine beaches to the Palais des Festivals right in the heart of Cannes. It is the safest and among the most up-market suburbs in Cannes, favoured for holiday and conference rentals, but also for second homes of the wealthy because it occupies a very unique peninsula, and beaches are to the east and to the west and never more than 200m distant. We find that people who visit Cannes and experience Palm Beach almost invariable say “this is where I would like to buy”. There are quaint and quality grocers, butcheries and patisseries in Palm Beach, and some traditional and some top class restaurants, yacht basins, harbours and a famous casino on the point – but it is also a quiet suburb out of the hustle and bustle of the centre. It has much to recommend it and property values are high.

The apartment has a large living room which opens onto an east facing terrace overlooking but set back from the Place. There is an entrance hall and a kitchen, both separated from the living room by dry wall, easily removed if one wanted to make the living room even bigger and the kitchen open-plan. A passage leads to a bathroom, a separate toilet, another shower and toilet, and three bedrooms. All of these look westwards with large windows allowing air to move freely through the apartment. They overlook a courtyard of shrubs and gardens which is quiet. There are generous cupboards and storage and
hanging space.

There is a large garage in the basement of the building.

The apartment has been a second home and holiday destination for the same family for 30 years, and it will need some renovation – the amount to be decided. It would be fine with a quick freshening coat of paint, but a new owner might decide to take out partitions to enlarge the living room, put in new and modern bathrooms, upgrade the kitchen, and install air conditioning. All of this would be optional rather than essential, but would add to the value of the apartment.

This lovely apartment right on the Rue d’Antibes, the second most famous shopping street in France after the Champs Elysee and in the heart of downtown Cannes is superb. It is spacious, light and bright, and entirely renovated to a high standard throughout. The sellers areincluding all of the furniture right down to the teaspoons in the sale, so it sells exactly as you see it in the photos.

The vast living room opens onto two typically French balconettes overlooking the Rue d’Antibes which is a snapshot of French culture and style. It is pristine, chic, and apart from the voices of happy shoppers below remarkably quiet, because the Rue d’Antibes is a single lane (one way) road running east to west parallel to the Croisette, but it goes nowhere! It exists only for the street it is in. There is no through traffic, and what traffic there is, is very slow (frustratingly slow if you are driving) because pedestrians swarm across it. It is quite impossible to speed. The kitchen is luxuriously equipped and the two bedrooms are on the southern side away from the Rue d’Antibes, their windows looking the other way, across quiet square and other similar buildings (without any road) making the sleeping accommodation very quiet. Each bedroom has a lovely bathroom, one with a shower.

The apartment is double glazed throughout and air conditioned in all rooms.

This apartment has been on our rental books for some time and it is extremely popular, very close to the Palais des Festivals for conference goers, and in the warm heart of the most fashionable location in the South of France for anyone else. The position is superb.

This apartment in a classic art deco building has been lovingly preserved and restored. All that could be retained of the original splendour has been retained – the cornices and mouldings, the huge double doors with the multiple panes of glass, the chandeliers and the perfect and original wooden floors. Where possible hidden and subtle lighting has been used and modern comforts have been fully catered for. The overall effect is grand and beautiful.

There is a huge central reception area, and a vast living room and dining room with original and working fireplaces. The kitchen is large and modern, and there are three big bedrooms with two bathrooms and three toilets.

This sort of space in this position is very unusual, and the restoration has been carried out to maximise it. It has air conditioning throughout, double glazing, a cellar in the basement and parking is available.

The position of this property in the centre of Cannes, just behind the Grand Hotel and the Palais Stephanie, and far closer to the Palais des
Festivals than the famous Carlton Hotel, make it highly desirable and nearly unique. With its space, luxurious finishes and status the apartment lends itself perfectly to high-end conference and holiday rentals. Equally it was and therefore can be a perfect second home again, or a holiday home or principal home for someone looking for style and luxury in the heart of the Riviera. Some rental income is always an option if desired.

This apartment is in a very large and prestigious group of apartment buildings set in extensive grounds with beautifully maintained gardens, pool, and unsurpassed panoramic views of the sea from Cannes to Juan les Pins, and the Cap d’Antibes. It is situated in the hills just east of La Californie and on the southern side of Super Cannes. The blocks have permanent guardians and staff.

The apartment has a huge living room leading to its wonderful south facing terrace, three bedrooms, with three bathrooms, and an equipped open plan kitchen. It has just been renovated entirely.

It has a cellar in the basement, a garage, double glazing throughout, air conditioning in all rooms, and armoured security doors.

This apartment is in a very large and prestigious group of apartment buildings set in extensive grounds with beautifully maintained gardens, pool, and unsurpassed panoramic views of the sea from Cannes to Juan les Pins, and the Cap d’Antibes. It is situated in the hills just east of La Californie and on the southern side of Super Cannes. The blocks have permanent guardians and staff.

The apartment has a huge double living room, some of it having been reclaimed from a reduced terrace. The terrace remaining is still large and deep, and the reclamation exercise was logical as the apartment is on the end of its building and the terrace went around the corner, which seemed like wasted space. It has three lovely bedrooms each with its own bathroom, an equipped kitchen.

There is a cellar in the basement, two garages and a designated (private) parking bay. Of course the apartment has double glazing and air conditioning throughout, electric shutte and heavy security doors at the entrance.

The three photographs at the top of this letter show some of the earlier stages of this wonderful old building. It doesn’t look like that any more of course because the building has undergone an evolution over the years, but the “feel” is still there. The ceilings are high and original, staircases are grand, doors are vast, and the commanding position dominating Cannes remains as inspiring as it ever was. The gardens and the building are protected, and the gardens are lovely.

The apartment on the fifth floor is balanced by a similar space on the opposite side of the building, but they are the only two with the huge terraces. There are no others.

The building and its gardens are immaculately maintained, with a guardian of course, and in addition to a private garage that comes with the apartment, there is collective closed parking for residents and guests.

The apartment itself has a grand entrance hall, and a magnificent living room with a fireplace and a modern and fully equipped kitchen. There are two large bedrooms with their own bathrooms, but the “piece de resistence” is without doubt the terrace! The view is stunning right across the rooftops of Cannes, and the space quite unique. 100m² of outdoor space on the 5th floor! The current owners have put up a very efficient system of awnings allowing them to use the terrace in all weather. Apart from their large outside dining area they also have their gym equipment on the terrace, and a fully plumbed Jacuzzi.

The position of this apartment and building is just a stones throw from the Rue d’Antibes and therefore very close to the Croisette and the conference facilities at the Palais des Festivals. The apartment lends itself to being a beautiful and important home or secondary home, but also has the potential to be extremely valuable as a “high end” and executive rental property during conferences, or for private usage, the huge and spectacular entertaining space and views placing it in a class apart.